Umbrella-runner retainer



(NoModeM D. s. SWARBRIG.

UMBRELLA RUNNER RETAINER. No. 554,897. Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

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DAVID S. SWVARBRIG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

UMBRELLA-RUNNER RETAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,897, dated February 18, 1896.

$erial N0. 5%,324. (N0 model.)

T0 at whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID S. SWARBRIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrella-Runner Retainers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a retainer for umbrella or parasol runners of that class in which the retainer or catch consists of a single piece of spring metal inserted in a tubular or other stick of the umbrella and held in operative position without the use of pins, rivets, or other retaining devices than those formed of the retainer itself; and it relates particularly to the construction and arrangement of such a retainer.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide a simple, durable, efficient, and inexpensive retainer or catch for umbrella or parasol runners, and, second, to provide a retainer for umbrella or parasol runners consisting of a single piece of spring metal provided with retaining shoulders adapted to engage the slot of a tubular or other stick to prevent longitudinal movement in said stick, and also provided with a doublecurved retaining and stop spring havin g bearings on diametrically-opposite sides of the interior of the tubular stick.

My invention consists in a retainer for umbrella or parasol runners constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature, characteristic features, and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following descriptiomtaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and which represents a central longitudinal section through a tubular stick and a side view of the retaining device of my invention, showing the same in an operative position in the stick.

Referring to the drawing, or represents a hollow or tubular umbrella or parasol stick provided with a slot 1), in which the retainer is adapted to be inserted and held. The retainer consists of the finger portion cl, provided with the square shoulders e and f, at its ends adapted to rest at the ends of the slot 6 and to retain the catch or retainer against longitudinal movement in the stick. The forward end 6 of the finger portion terminates in a projection g, which, when the retainer is in position, rests against the wall of the tube a to limit the outward movement of the finger portion cl. The finger portion (1 is provided at its rear end f with a double-c urved retaining and stop spring. This spring consists of the U-shaped portion h, terminating in the inwardly-extending arched portion 2' and the outwardly-extending arched portion i the portion 1' bearing against the right-hand interior wall of the stick a, while the other portion, i bears against the left-hand interior wall of said stick. These bearing portions support the U-shaped portion h, but do not serve to increase the spring-tension thereof by coacting with the same during the depression of the finger-piece. The bearing portions serve merely to permit the entrance and withdrawal of the retainer in the tube and to prevent longitudinal movement of the retainer when the same is in the tube.

To place the retainer in the tube the fulcral end is slid in the slot 1) and past the end thereof into the interior of the tube until the projection 9 slides past the other end of the slot 1). The retainer is then depressed against the combined action of its spring until the projection g is in the interior of the tube, when a slight longitudinal movement to the retainer will bring the fulcral end or shoulder f and the end or shoulder 6 into alignment with the ends of the slot, when the spring will serve to bring the retainer into operative position and to retain it therein.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a slotted tube, of a retainer comprising a finger-piece having a fulcral shoulder, said piece mounted and locked against longitudinal movement in said tube and provided with two spring-acting eX- tensions having bearings upon diametricallyopposite sides of said tube, whereby said finger-piece may be depressed in said tube against the tension of said spring extensions and be returnedwithout longitudinal movement thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID S. SWVARBRIG. 

